Pandemic and Keema Biryani, a Comfort Food

Sarika tells us how the pandemic has changed the world for us. She also shares the recipe of Keema Biryani. An exclusive for Different Truths.

The difficult times that we are experiencing will there in our hearts, if we survive this pandemic, for a very long time. It is a kind of revolution that people witnessed probably right after most of the major outbreaks, like, the Great Plague of London, Philadelphia Yellow Fever, Spanish Flu, American Polio Epidemic, H1N1 Swine Flu, Ebola Epidemic and many more. So far, we had experienced that most of the flu are surrounded in one province or a particular community. But this time, it is global, and no consolation prize is working for us.  The whole world became a virtual world. A war, we all are fighting, just keeping ourselves within the house. I am pretty sure this pandemic will change the perception of lives around the world for us

The whole world became a virtual world. A war, we all are fighting, just keeping ourselves within the house. I am pretty sure this pandemic will change the perception of lives around the world for us

We are also experiencing a drastic change in the field of education. From assessments to delivering classes, everything is going through a major change. We can’t see any of our learners face to face, as in a classroom, still, we are very well connected. I used to feel I won’t be able to connect with my learners without seeing them in real. I was proved wrong. Over this period, we created a very strong bond and are learning together.

I have been attending many national and international webinars on online education, with a common goal to provide the best to the students. One constant challenge is to provide quality education with minimum screen time. Have met wonderful educators, who all are experts in their respective fields, for the past 25 years, also changing their strategies. It is indeed new learning for all the educators. Change is an opportunity to do something amazing. This pandemic will leave its mark on all of us and will also teach a lesson about how capable we humans are. No matter what, learning cannot be stopped!

At times, I also wonder, it’s a year when an entire generation started their first year in school. They will have a completely different idea about the school. I know many of them completed their grads and are waiting for placements. Most of the companies have stopped hiring, however, a few companies are still able to show some light in the society. A year of uncertainties. Like every cloud has its silver lining, many of them adopted new hobbies and confessed – this pandemic helped them to find discover new in them.

The economic condition of the nation is horrible — shops, malls, theatres, restaurants, et al., every place is empty. I wonder what will happen to those families and their children? How will they cope with the situation, who will take care of their mental health?

The economic condition of the nation is horrible — shops, malls, theatres, restaurants, et al., every place is empty. I wonder what will happen to those families and their children? How will they cope with the situation, who will take care of their mental health? Probably, in many homes, basic meals are also a distant dream. Government and NGO’s are working very hard but it is not at all easy. We have a long way to go!

As we may not be able to solve all the world’s problems at once but I am hopeful, we are heading to better days, with a note sharing a keema recipe with you all.

Stay safe. Stay healthy!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 30-40 minutes

Level of Cooking: Moderate

Taste: Spicy

Ingredients for Keema Biryani

• Chicken Mince 400 grams
  Basmati rice soaked 1 1/2 cups
  Oil 2 tablespoons
  Cinnamon 1 inch stick
  Black cardamom 1
  Green cardamoms 2
  Cloves 5-6
  Black peppercorns 8-10
  Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
  Onion chopped 1 large
  Salt to taste
  Garlic paste 1 tablespoon
  Ginger paste 1 tablespoon
  Tomatoes chopped 2 large
  Red chilli powder 1 teaspoon
  Green chillies chopped 3
  Fresh coriander leaves chopped 2 tablespoons
  Mint leaves 15-20
  Garam masala powder 1 teaspoon
  Fried onions 1 cup
  Saffron (Kesar) dissolved in ¼ cup milk a few
  Ghee  2 tablespoons

Method

1. Heat oil in a deep pan and add cinnamon, black cardamom, green cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns and cumin seeds to the oil in the pan and saute till fragrant.
2. Add onion and saute for a few minutes. Now pour mince and mix well and continue to saute till well browned.
3. This is the time add garlic ginger paste to the mince. Then add tomatoes, red chilli powder, and salt and mix well. Take green chillies, some coriander leaves, and some mint leaves and mix well.
4. When the rice is done, strain it and keep aside.
5. Now, add some garam masala powder to keema and give a nice mix. Add salt and again mix.
6. Add ¼ cup fried onion and mix.
7. Pour half the keema mix in a rice pan.
8. Spread half rice over keema and spread some fried onion, some mint leaves, some coriander leaves, some garam masala powder, half the saffron milk, 1 tbsp ghee, and make one more layers with everything (keema, rice, fried onions, mint leaves, coriander leaves, garam masala powder, saffron milk, ghee). Cover the pan and cook till ready to serve. Serve hot with raita or whatever you like, as a side dish.

Photo by the author